核仁组成区相关嗜银蛋白染色革新法

核仁组成区相关嗜银蛋白（ＡｇＮＯＲ）银染技术已广泛用以研究细胞生长活性,根据ＡｇＮＯＲ数目多少来判定肿瘤的良恶性和对肿瘤进行鉴别诊断。然而ＡｇＮＯＲ技术至今还存在背景非特异性银颗粒沉积问题而影响结果判定。本研究发现影响背景染色结果的主要因素是明胶的质量,采用Ｆａｒｍｅｒ’ｓ液可以清除背景染色,运用微波炉染色不仅可以缩短染色时间而且可以减少银用量。     

物理、化学复合作用所致人胚肺细胞AgNORs形态计量学改变

物理、化学复合作用所致人胚肺细胞ＡｇＮＯＲｓ形态计量学改变樊飞跃,曹珍山,杨素霞,李煜,周淑珍,涂开成,刘国廉（北京放射医学研究所北京１００８５０）细胞核内核仁组成区相关嗜银蛋白（ＡｇＮＯＲＳ）颗粒数量及大小等形态计量学参数的测定和分析,已在临床和实...     

AgNORs异型颗粒在乳腺癌细胞核中的观察分析

本文报道了核仁组成区嗜银蛋白（ＡｇＮＯＲｓ）在乳腺癌细胞核中的一组异型颗粒——字母样结构“ＣＥＩＪＲＳＴＵＲＹＸ”等,乳腺良性病变无此结构。研究结果表明,字母样结构在浸润性导管癌中多见,在乳头状癌中未见。结合乳腺癌的临床分期分析,临床分期越高,有字母样结构的乳腺癌所占比分也越高。同时,有字母样结构的乳腺癌组其ＡｇＮＯＲｓ含量和颗粒形态的异型性均明显高于无字母样结构的乳腺癌组。在讨论中认为,ＡｇＮＯＲｓ字母样结构对鉴别诊断乳腺癌可能有一定的形态学参考价值     

AgNORs染色在病原菌检测中的特殊应用

ＡｇＮＯＲｓ染色在病原菌检测中的特殊应用胥维勇,杨红,李科,杨群（四川省人民医院病理科．成都６１００７２）核仁组成区嗜银蛋白ＡｇＮＯＲｓ染色法是近年来广泛采用的银浸润染色技术,它在判断细胞增殖状态,区别良恶性肿瘤研究时有一定意义［１］。我们应用ＡｇＮ...     

乳腺癌AgNOR计数与癌胚抗原的免疫组化研究

应用核仁组成区嗜银蛋白（ＡｇＮＯＲ）技术及癌胚抗原（ＣＥＡ）免疫组化染色对９８例乳腺良、恶性病变进行对比研究。结果表明：ＡｇＮＯＲ计数与肿瘤增殖活跃程度及生物学行为是一致的。乳腺癌中ＡｇＮＯＲ计数显著高于良性病变（Ｐ＜０．０１）。浸润癌ＡｇＮＯＲ计数比其他类型乳腺癌高。ＣＥＡ染色在乳腺良性病变中基本阴性,恶性病变中阳性率８０．８％。乳腺癌中ＡｇＮＯＲ计数与ＣＥＡ分布之间呈线性相关（ｒ＝０．８２,Ｐ＜０．０５）。ＣＥＡ阳性乳腺癌组与ＣＥＡ阴性组ＡｇＮＯＲ计数差异显著（Ｐ＜０．０５）。提示：ＡｇＮＯＲ定量研究和ＣＥＡ分布在乳腺良、恶性病变的鉴别及肿瘤恶性程度的研究中具有相似的参考价值。     

AgNOR染色对甲状腺良、恶性病变诊断价值的研究

本文应用ＡｇＮＯＲ染色技术对７３例甲状腺良恶性病变石蜡切片核仁组成区变化进行观察,其中包括亚急性甲状腺炎５例、腺瘤２５例、结节性甲状腺肿７例、甲状腺癌３６例,结果表明亚急性甲状腺炎、腺瘤、结节性甲状腺肿,细胞核内的ＡｇＮＯＲ颗粒均数及形态与甲状腺癌的均数及形态比较有显著性差异（Ｐ＜０．０１）。我们认为此方法对于区别甲状腺良、恶性病变有一定参考价值。     

肿瘤核仁形成区形态定量诊断的误差及规范化分析

本文采用包括自动图象分析技术在内的ＡｇＮＯＲ形态定量学方法,以大肠肿瘤为模型,进行了ＡｇＮＯＲ定量形态学研究的误差分析,以探讨肿瘤ＡｇＮＯＲ定量诊断规范化的可能。结果表明,染色条件、视场目标选择和细胞计数量是引起ＡｇＮＯＲ定量诊断的主要误差;恒定染色环境,正确选择欲测细胞及测定足够量的细胞是使ＡｇＮＯＲ形态定量诊断规范化的途径。     

膀胱肿瘤DNA含量、核形态学特点与AgNORs计数的研究

应用图像分析技术对４３例膀胱肿瘤细胞ＤＮＡ含量和核形态参数进行了定量测定,同时进行核仁组成区（ＡｇＮＯＲｓ）计数研究,结果表明：肿瘤细胞的ＤＮＡ含量及干系水平与组织学分级基本一致,ＤＮＡ含量及干系水平越高,则恶性程度越高,ＤＮＡ含量与核面积及核最短直径的变化里正相关性,与ＡｇＮＯＲｓ的计数无明显相关性。这三项检测方法对肿瘤生物学行为判断均有重要的参考价值。     

肥大细胞在大鼠肝癌发生过程中的作用研究

应用组织化学、免疫组织化学、电子显微镜及形态测量等方法对二乙基亚硝胺（ＤＥＮ）诱发大鼠肝肿瘤过程中肥大细胞（ＭＣ）对肝细胞生化代谢、细胞核及核仁组成区（ＮＯＲ）的影响等进行了研究。结果显示肝细胞葡萄糖６磷酸酶（Ｇ－６－Ｐａｓｅ）和α－抗胰蛋白酶（α－ＡＴ）在ＭＣ最多与最少组之间的分布无明显差异,而嗜银蛋白颗粒（ＡｇＮＯＲ）计数和纤维中心数密度及核仁面积之比则自第十四周起显示出分布的个体差异,它们在ＭＣ最多组明显低于ＭＣ最少组、本文并对该种差异的意义进行了简要讨论。     

Ag－NOR在胸腹水细胞学诊断中的意义

采用核仁组成区嗜银蛋白（Ａｇ－ＮＯＲ）技术,对４０例胸腹水的患者进行细胞学观察研究。结果发现,良性病变胸腹水内细胞Ａｇ－ＮＯＲ计数在１．１～２．０之间,银颗粒小,大小比较均一。恶性病变Ａｇ－ＮＯＲ计数在４．３～６．２之间,银颗粒大,不规则。肉瘤与癌所致的胸腹水内细胞Ａｇ－ＮＯＲ颗粒数目未发现有明显差别。提示在临床病理工作中,Ａｇ－ＮＯＲ技术在胸腹水脱落细胞学检查中,对良、恶性肿瘤的鉴别诊断具有一定的实用意义。     

Analysis of silver binding nucleolar organizer regions in exfoliative cytology smears of potentially malignant and malignant oral lesions

Nucleolar organizer regions are nucleolar components that contain proteins that are stained selectively by silver methods; they can be identified as black dots throughout the nucleolus and are known as silver binding nucleolar organizer regions (AgNOR). The number of AgNOR is related to the cell cycle and the proliferative activity of the cells. We investigated AgNOR using exfoliative cytology smears of potentially malignant oral lesions. Eighty individuals were divided into four equal groups: healthy controls, oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis and oral squamous cell carcinoma. The mean number of AgNOR in each study group gradually increased from control to oral leukoplakia to oral submucous fibrosis to oral squamous cell carcinoma. The proliferative index was increased in the oral premalignant and malignant patients compared to normal subjects. The mean AgNOR size gradually increased from control to oral leukoplakia to oral submucous fibrosis to oral squamous cell carcinoma. Spherical shaped AgNOR were most common in controls, whereas large, clustered and kidney shapes were most common in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Multiparameter analysis of AgNOR in oral exfoliative smears is a simple, sensitive and cost-effective method for differentiating premalignant from malignant lesions and can be used in conjunction with routine cytomorphological evaluation.     

Manual and automated AgNOR count in differentiating reactive mesothelial from metastatic malignant cells in serous effusions

OBJECTIVE: To distinguish reactive mesothelial cells from malignant cells in serous effusions using manual and automated methods of enumeration of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs). STUDY DESIGN: In this prospective study, 38 samples of benign (19 cases) and malignant (19 cases) serous effusions were included. AgNOR stain was used in each case along with routine Papanicolaou stain. The smears were examined under an oil immersion objective, and AgNOR dots were counted by direct observation independently by 2 observers. Automated AgNOR counting and morphometry were performed with a Quantimet 600 image cytometer (Leica, Cambridge, England). At least 100 cells were counted in each case. The number of AgNOR dots in individual cells, AgNOR area, nuclear area, AgNOR vs. nuclear area and nuclear perimeter were measured. Data on benign and malignant cells were compared. RESULTS: The AgNOR dots were discrete and smaller in benign effusion cases as compared to coarse and aggregated in malignant effusion cases. In benign reactive effusion cases the mean number of AgNOR dots per nucleus was 2.33 +/- 0.71 and 2.83 +/- 1.15 by the manual and automated method, respectively, whereas that for malignant effusion cases was 7.48 +/- 2.51 and 8.09 +/- 1.69 by the manual and automated method, respectively. Mean total AgNOR areas in benign and malignant groups were 4.77 +/- 2.66 microns 2 and 38.22 +/- 13.71 microns 2, respectively. Mean nuclear area, nuclear perimeter and ratio of AgNORs vs. nuclear area were 48.72 +/- 19.30 microns 2, 24.68 +/- 10.25 microns and .098 in benign effusion cases as compared to 174.25 +/- 82.36 microns 2, 69.03 +/- 27.23 microns and 0.22 in malignant effusion samples. All these values were significantly higher (P < .001, Student's t test) in malignant cells as compared to benign reactive cells. CONCLUSION: AgNOR dot enumeration, AgNOR area and ratio of AgNORs to nuclear area are valuable adjuncts to cytomorphology in differentiating reactive mesothelial cells from malignant cells in serous effusions. Automated AgNOR counting is rapid and less cumbersome.     

A further study on nucleolar silver stained granules in some mononuclear-lymphoid bone marrow cells

Nucleolar silver stained granules (SSGs) representing nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) were investigated in human as well as rabbit bone marrows after visualization with standardized silver reaction for non-histone nucleolar argyrophilic proteins. The results indicated that few mononuclear lymphoid blast-like cells in investigated bone marrows are characterized by large irregularly shaped nucleoli which contain a larger number of SSGs than myeloblasts or proerythroblasts as well as immature or stimulated lymphocytes. Since according to previous studies the number of nucleolar SSGs decreased in the course of the erythroid, granulocytic and lymphocytic differentiation and maturation, a possibility exists that the described mononuclear lymphoid blast-like cells are even less differentiated and immature than committed stem cells for mentioned cell lines.     

Morphometric analysis of AgNORs in nonkeratinizing carcinoma and adjacent normal epithelia in the nasopharynx

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the proliferative activity of different types of nonkeratinizing carcinoma and adjacent normal epithelia in the nasopharynx by the quantitative assessment of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) proteins. STUDY DESIGN: Silver staining of nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) was applied to 70 paraffin sections of nonkeratinizing carcinoma in nasopharyngeal biopsies. Fifty-four of the 70 cases had differentiated nonkeratinizing carcinoma (DNC), and the remaining 16 had undifferentiated carcinoma (UC). Nineteen of these 70 samples proved to contain, besides carcinoma, normal epithelia (NE), which was used as a control. The epithelial cells and cancer cells were analyzed for their AgNOR features by image cytometric analysis. RESULTS: As compared with normal epithelia, significant differences were found in mean nuclear area, AgNOR count, mean AgNOR area, AgNOR area ratio and AgNOR area/count ratio between NE and DNC (P < .05) and in mean nuclear area, mean AgNOR area and AgNOR area/count ratio between NE and UC (P < .001). Further, the differences in mean nuclear area, mean AgNOR area and AgNOR area/count ratio were statistically significant between DNC and UC. CONCLUSION: The evaluation of AgNORs is a useful histologic assessment of rapidity of cell proliferation in malignant and benign lesions and demonstrated that UC had more rapidly proliferative activity than DNC in this study.     

Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in interphases and metaphases of normal and neoplastic gill cells of Macoma balthica (Bivalvia: Tellinidae) from the Gulf of Gdansk, Baltic Sea

Chromosome analysis of gill cells of different populations of Macoma balthica (L.) from the Bay of Gdansk (Baltic Sea) revealed 2 clam categories, 1 with neoplastic features and 1 without. Silver-staining was performed on interphase and metaphase cells of both categories. The mean argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) count per abnormal interphase cell was significantly higher than in normal interphase cells. Normal silver-stained metaphases had 3 nucleolar organizer region (NOR) chromosome phenotypes. The location of the NORs in the most frequent phenotype (55.6% in 54 metaphases scored) was interstitial on the largest metacentric chromosome pair, Pair No. 1. Abnormal silver-stained metaphases had a higher number of active NOR sites. Different phenotypes were observed (frequency greater than 10% for 67 metaphases scored); 2 were similar to those in normal metaphases and 5 were ectopic. The higher activity of AgNORs observed in abnormal cells confirmed the diagnosis of malignant neoplasia.     

Melanin bleaching in argyrophilic staining of AgNORs in pigmented lesions: a morphometric evaluation

OBJECTIVE: To establish a procedure that can effectively bleach melanin from pigmented lesions without affecting quantification of argyrophilic staining of nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs). STUDY DESIGN: Twenty banal compound nevi, five from each of nonpigmented, slightly pigmented, moderately pigmented and heavily pigmented groups, were bleached by 10% H202 for periods of 0 (nonbleached controls) and 24 hours. AgNOR size and count parameters of nevomelanocytic nuclei were measured by video image analysis. Melanin bleaching using KMnO4 was also investigated. RESULTS: In all lesions treated with 10% H202 for 24 hours, the melanin was bleached effectively, with no qualitative change in AgNOR appearance. There were no significant differences in mean AgNOR number per nucleus (AgNOR number), mean individual AgNOR size (AgNOR size) or mean percentage of AgNOR area per nucleus (% nuclear area) between nonbleached and bleached sets in both the nonpigmented and slightly pigmented groups. However, disintegration of AgNOR dots was observed in those treated with 1% KMnO4 for 5, 10 and 15 minutes. There were significant decreases in AgNOR size (P = .002) and % nuclear area (P = .003) and increase in AgNOR number (P = .05) in the slightly pigmented group evaluated when treated with 1% KMnO4 for five minutes. CONCLUSION: Melanin in pigmented lesions can be bleached effectively with an H202 procedure without significantly affecting AgNOR staining properties in contrast to bleaching with KMnO4.     

AgNOR count in exfoliative cytology of normal buccal mucosa. Effect of smoking

OBJECTIVE: To compare the argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) count of cells collected from normal buccal mucosa of cigarette smokers with that obtained from nonsmokers. STUDY DESIGN: Cytologic smears of normal buccal mucosa from 20 smokers and 20 nonsmokers were stained for AgNORs. The AgNOR count was established on 100 cells. The count values of groups were compared and analyzed using Student's unpaired t test. RESULTS: The AgNORs were round and had a clustered distribution in both groups. The mean AgNOR count was statistically higher in cells of smokers than nonsmokers (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Analysis of AgNORs suggests that cigarette smoking influences proliferative activity in cells of normal buccal mucosa.     

AgNOR analysis of atypical ductal hyperplasia and intraductal carcinoma of the breast

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic and prognostic value of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and microinvasive ductal carcinoma (MDCA) of the breast. STUDY DESIGN: Image analysis of histologic sections from biopsies of 46 breast ADH and DCIS and 18 cases of MDCA. Determination of morphometric features of cell nuclei and nucleolar organizer regions by using AMBA software system. Data were compared with the estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (ER/PR) content as well as with the growth fraction, determined immunohistochemically. RESULTS: AgNOR number and total AgNOR area increased from ADH to DCIS. The highest values were recorded in cases of DCIS with microinvasion. Differences between ADH and intraductal or microinvasive ductal carcinoma were statistically significant. Within the group of intraductal carcinomas, the lowest values were measured in the solid type and highest values in the comedo type. A correlation was found between AgNOR features and growth fraction but not between these features and ER/PR status. CONCLUSION: Selected AgNOR features are relevant for differentiation between ADH and DCIS as well as between low and high grade DCIS and microinvasive ductal carcinoma. Therefore, objective and reproducible data obtained by AgNOR analysis may allow better evaluation of the prognostic significance of these lesions.     

Interphasic nucleolar organizer regions expression and cell kinetics evaluation during gastric carcinogenesis induced by nitrosoguanidine in the rat.

An increased number of interphasic nucleolar organizer regions containing ribosomal cistrons associated with argyrophilic proteins (AgNORs) has been described in human malignant tumor cells. In this study variations in AgNOR numbers have been compared with changes of cell kinetics, evaluated by the mitotic count (MC) and bromodeoxyuridine labeling index (BrdU LI), during gastric carcinogenesis induced with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (NG) in rats. Significant differences (2 P < 0.005) in AgNOR mean numbers, evaluated in the antral isthmic cells, in MC mean values and BrdU LI, evaluated in the whole antral cellular population, were found when comparing areas of acute gastritis, atrophy and hyperplasia in NG-treated rats with the normal mucosa in controls. No differences were observed in MC and BrdU LI between normal antrum and carcinoma cells which showed an AgNORs mean number lower than in the isthmic cells of controls (2 P < 0.005). Moreover, significant correlations were found comparing changes in AgNOR numbers with MC (r = 0.89, P < 0.001) and BrdU LI (r = 0.66, P < 0.001) in different lesions. These data show that evaluation of AgNOR numbers does not allow the identification of malignant cells in NG-induced gastric carcinoma. However AgNOR quantification seems to be a reliable index of cell kinetics and related well with the cellular dividing fraction.